Mid-September, OSD Superintendent Patrick Murphy plans to announce multiple schools for closure. School closure and consolidation is a plan that the OSD will be addressing, along with the development of a bond, and their long term strategic plan. All these moving parts are in the works at the same time, and will affect ALL OSD families, as well as taxpayers.

As you may have begun to see, there is already information being put out about the potential closures of LP Brown and other OSD Elementary Schools. While we don’t know for certain which schools will be named, we do know that we are stronger when we stand together.

This is not about hoping that one school gets picked for closure over ours. No matter what happens, if there are school closures, ALL our students will be impacted on some level. When a school closes, those students have to go somewhere; this means changes in boundaries, staffing, class sizes, transportation, and all the details that go along with our school system.

EDUCATE: School closure and consolidation is not new; we can learn something from studying outcomes of it happening in other districts. It is ONE solution to challenges that school districts face. We can also learn something from looking at how other districts have solved similar issues without closure and consolidation. Take some time to review materials on OSD’s website, materials provided by OSD4All (a local advocacy organization), and do your own research.

ASK QUESTIONS: As you dive in to all the information that’s out there, you will likely have A LOT of questions. ASK them. Email the school board, show up at meetings.

SPREAD AWARENESS: Share this information and things you learn with others. The last time school closures were on the table, many families were not even aware. Even if you don’t feel comfortable speaking at meetings or writing a letter yourself, there are many others who will if they have awareness of what’s at stake.

ADVOCATE: Use the data and information you’ve learned, to advocate for what you believe is best for our OSD students. The way that you advocate may look slightly different if you’re at a closing school vs. receiving school; but nonetheless it is important for ALL of us to speak up when it matters.